Furnace



(:No Model.)

W. E. HARRIS.

AM'ALGAMATING FURNACE.

No. 273,Z75. V '"Paiteme-d-"Mar'i6,

wr mnssiia w Ewing: Mfl w 4 BY ATTORNEYS.

PLTERS. PholmLhimgnphen'V/ahinglun. D. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. HARRIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AMALGAMATlNG-FURNACE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.273,275, dated March 6, 1883.

Application filed April 28, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

promote thoroughness in the operation.

The invention consists in an amalgamatingfurnace constructed withseparate fire-chamhers, and having in its upper part a horizontaltubular amalgamator connected by pipes with three tanks, through whichand theamalgamator the amalgam is forced by a pump, making thecirculation of the amalgam continuous. A represents the furnace, whichis provided with a series of four fire-grates, B, more or less,separated by division-walls G, rising at little above the said grates,so as to form separate fire-chambers D and allow any desired number ofseparate fires to be maintained. The last fire-grate of the series isplaced within the lower part of the stack E, as shown in the drawing.

In the upper part of the furnace A is placed the amalgamator F, in ornearly in a horizontal position. The amalgamator F is made in tubularform, and through it passes longitudinally a shaft, G, which revolves instuffingboXes in the ends of the said amalgamator. The forward end ofthe shaft G projects through the end wall of the furnace A, and has apulley, H, attached to it to receive a driving-belt. To the shaft G,within the amalgamator F, are attached arms I, to agitate and mix theore and amalgam as they pass through the said amalgamator and insure thecontact of every particle of ore with the amalgam.

The ore is introduced into the amalgamator F through the hopper J, thedischarge-spout of which enters the forward part of the stack E andconnects with the end of the amalgamator F in the forward part of theinterior of the stack. The amalgam enters the inner end (No model.)

of the amalgamator F through the pipe K from the tank L, which issecured in the interior of the stack E at a higher level than theamalgamator F. At the outer end of the amalgamator F the ore and amalgamflow into the tank M, and the refuse ore flows over the upper edge ofthe said tank M into the casing N and passes down through thepipe 0 intothe condensing-pipe P. The amalgam from the tank M flows through thepipe Q into the tank It, into which the amalgam is first put, and inwhich it is formed by the union of melted lead with mercury. From thetank R the amalgam passes through the-pipe S to the pump T,

by which it is forced through the pipe U into the tank L, to again passthrough the amalgamator F, so that there will be a continuouscirculation of the amalgam and a continuous discharge of refuse ore. I

The piston-rod V of the pump T is connected with a crank or crank-wheel,W, attached to the inner end of the shaft X, which revolves in bearingsY, attached to the stack E or to some other suitable support. 7

To the outer end of the crank-shaft X is attached a pulley, Z, toreceive a driving-belt.

The amalgam is formed by melting lead in the presence of mercury, thetwo being preferably in about equal proportions. In this compound thequicksilver makes the melted lead more liquid, keeps it liquid shouldthe heat fall below the melting temperature of lead, and prevents thelead'from oxidizing, so that it can be used in amalgamating gold andsilver ores in a hot condition without loss of lead by oxidation.

The vapors of quicksilver that may be generated in the tanks R and Lpass through the pipes on and b to the condensing-pipes c and d.

1 do not claim a furnace having a series of 0 fire-chambers.

Havingthus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby LettersPatent 1. In an amalgamating-furnace, the combination, withthe horizontal tubular amalgamator F, having agitator G I, of the threetanks R L M and their connecting-pipes, means suitable for heating saidamalgamator, and the force-pump T, substantially as herein shown anddescribed, whereby the amalgam is made to circulate continuously throughthe umalgasubstantially as herein shown and described,

mater, as set forth. whereby the amalgamating apparatus is kept 2. In anamalgamating-furnace, the combihot while being operated, as set forth.

nation, with the furnace A, having separate WILLIAM EDWARD HARRIS. 5fire-chambers D, of the amaIgama-tor F, hav- Witnesses:

ing agitator G I, the three tanks R L M and JAMES T. GRAHAM,

their connecting-pipes, and the force-pump T, EDGAR TATE.

